What to do during an emergency

When the situation requires, follow the instructions and recommendations issued by authorities to ensure your safety and that of your loved ones.

Consult credible sources for information on the current situation, the instructions and recommendations in effect, and the programs and services offered. In particular:

• Consult your municipality’s website and follow its social media accounts
• Consult the section reserved for the event on the Quebec.ca website Follow Urgence Québec’s Facebook and Twitter account
• Consult the websites and social media accounts of the authorities concerned by the event
• Listen to radio and TV stations in your area or follow them on social media

Report to the following organizations any incident or event that may have adverse consequences for the safety of persons:

• Your municipality, if the danger is not immediate (e.g. odour in the water)
• 911 or municipal emergency services in severe cases (e.g. a sudden flood)
• Société de protection des forêts contre le feu (SOPFEU)
• Hydro-Québec

In the event of a disaster, it is normal to want to call your loved ones to reassure them and check if they are safe. In some situations, however, communication systems can be damaged or overloaded. In an emergency situation, encourage the use of:

• Text messages, emails or social media messages to get in touch with your loved ones, as they clutter up telecommunications networks less than voice communications. This will free up the telephone networks, which should be reserved for emergency calls
• Web applications designed specifically for finding relatives in an emergency, such as the Safety Check feature in Facebook, the Google Person Finder site or the Restoring Family Links service, offered by the Red Cross.

If you must use a telephone, be brief and give only essential information. If you make short telephone calls, you will prevent your cell phone battery from draining too quickly.

Avoid all non-essential use of the wireless Internet, especially transmitting photos and videos.

Here are some tips for handling an emergency:

• Move your family to a safe place.
• Find family members or friends affected by the disaster as soon as the situation is no longer dangerous. If it is not possible for you to get to your home, go to the meeting place you established in your family safety plan.
• Comfort your loved ones.
• Talk about your feelings with your loved ones or a social worker to lower your stress level.
• Do activities that help pass the time and help you cope better.
• Stay informed by listening to the media or by obtaining information from the organizations involved.
• Offer help to those around you who need it.
• Contact your municipality if you would like to offer your assistance (for example filling sandbags or participating in collective cleaning activities). Consult the What you need to know about volunteer workers (French only) to learn about your rights and responsibilities as a volunteer worker.

Children are particularly vulnerable in the context of a disaster. To help them cope and understand what is going on:

• Keep them close to you.
• Reassure them about the feelings they are having.
• Explain to them what is going on. However, do not give them too many details if they are young.
• Encourage them to talk about the situation.
• Listen to their questions and answer them as best you can.
• Let them help or support if they want.
• Avoid exposing them to images of the disaster on the television or other device.
• Consider seeing a mental health professional if their reactions last longer than four weeks or occur later.

People with special needs may need support. Before helping them:

• Ask them if they want your assistance and how you can help.
• Explain the actions you plan to take before taking them.
• Speak clearly and calmly, without speaking loudly.
• Avoid lifting, supporting, or physically assisting anyone if you are unfamiliar with recommended safety techniques.
• Do not touch their service animal without their permission.

If you have a disability or special needs, see the Emergency Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities/Special Needs for additional information.

Social media is one of the main sources of information during emergencies. They allow citizens to know the state of a situation and the services offered to disaster victims, to comment on certain actions of the authorities and to react to them.

Adopt the right reflexes

Pass on the safety instructions and recommendations in force that the authorities disseminate on social media to the people around you.

Only share information from official sources:

• Municipal, provincial or federal authorities
• Emergency services (e.g. police, fire department)
• Parapublic organizations or Crown corporations (e.g. Hydro-Québec, SOPFEU)
• Recognized voluntary organizations (e.g. Red Cross)

Unsure of the source of the information? Do not share the information.

Do not spread information that is unverified, questionable, or is not useful in the circumstances. Inaccurate information and its excess can slow down the deployment of relief efforts and put lives at risk.

Refrain from posting or sharing photos or videos showing victims or people in distress.

In the event of a terrorist attack or in the presence of an active shooter, avoid sharing any photos or videos that could help the assailants. Instead, send them to law enforcement.

Avoid posting or sharing personally identifiable information (e.g. name and contact information of a disaster victim).

Media presence is normal during a disaster. Their work respects ethical standards. A journalist may ask you, as a witness or victim of the incident, to grant them an interview. You can:  

• Accept the interview knowing that what you say, the images and the audio of the interview become the property of the media and are used at its discretion.
• Accept the interview by setting your conditions, for example forbidding them to name you, to disseminate your image or voice.
• Politely decline the interview.

If you have to take time off work because you are directly affected by a disaster, notify your employer within a reasonable time and agree on the arrangements to be made.

Notify your service providers of your situation and agree on the arrangements to be made.